GOSPEL BINDING

H 165mm / L 120mm

Work by carver Malkhas Hagop M., from the town of Caesarea. This bossed and chiselled binding once contained a gospel book which has disappeared. The inscription on the spine is framed by floral and geometrical patterns.
At the top, a representation of the mystical Lamb carrying the cross and the banner of Christianity recalls the sacrifice of Christ, also pictured on the binding’s front cover, with the representation of the Last Supper.
On two other bindings made in the city of Caesarea at the same time, God holding a scroll replaces the Mystic Lamb (see La Magie de l’Ecrit p.236, catalogue edited by Claude Mutafian, Editions Somogy, Paris 2007).
As in many cases, both in the copying of manuscripts and in the engraving of texts, there are spelling mistakes. Classical Armenian is mixed with medieval language, which, combined with the copyist’s imaginativeness, makes these texts difficult to read.
Inscription on the back in 12 lines:
“”I had this gospel adorned in silver/Thanks to justly acquired revenues,/Made in the city of Caesarea,/by the unworthy hands of goldsmith/Malkhas Hagop M.(mahtesi /the pilgrim),/in the Armenian date of/1109 (1660), to always remember /our saviour Jesus Christ/and give thanks to him.””
Which can be read thus:
Avetaran ays ari-Al /halal entchis iwr/Zardaretsi artzats /Kesaria kaghakin /Anarjan dzerok /ar-tzatakortz Malkhas-In /m. Hagop tivn ha /Yots R.TJ.T.vasn /Hicheloutian am-/Menaynav gohan- al/ prktchin mer(o)y/y(isous)i k(risto)si

H 165mm / L 120mm

Back cover
The Coronation of the Virgin.
Central Registry: The originality of this iconography is probably of Western influence.
The triumphant Virgin is in the centre, head and shoulders covered with a veil and cloak, joining her hands in prayer.
On clouds made up of celestial guardian seraphim, the Virgin is flanked by Christ carrying the cross on her right and God the Father holding the sceptre on her left. Together they place a crown on Mary’s head. Further seraphim are above the heads of Christ and God. They surround the Holy Spirit dove, whose beneficial rays illuminate the crowned Virgin’s nimbus.
One detail could have gone unnoticed: under the Virgin’s feet lies a crushed serpent. The serpent-demon that tempted the first Eve in history now lies inert at the feet of the second crowned Eve. Evil is thus defeated.
The prominent belly of Christ is perhaps not a clumsy move on the part of the goldsmith, but rather recalls the physical constitution of monks of the time.
Thus, in art, there are constant links between the earthly world and its projection into the heavens.

Note God’s triangular nimbus on the right, attributed only to him. It recalls the trinity. This representation is absent from medieval Armenian iconography. But this binding was made in Caesarea in western Armenia: the stylistic and iconographic changes illustrate western influence in Armenian art from the 17th century.
At the base are the six other apostles with their attributes.

H 165mm / L 120mm

Reverse side of back cover

H 165mm / L 120mm

Front cover
The Last Supper.
An important episode in Christ’s life on earth.
Christ is seated at the table, the perspective of which is rendered by the rounding and draping of the tablecloth in the foreground, surrounded by his twelve disciples. He extends his right hand towards St John, while Judas appears to be holding the purse with the denarii given to him by the Romans for his betrayal.The scene takes place in a sophisticated setting. Two towers are seen at the back of the room, while heavy curtains can be untied at any time to obscure the scene, recalling the mystery of the Eucharist. Only Christ is haloed. The apostles are looking in different directions, chatting amongst themselves and asking questions about the revelation Jesus has just shared about the Eucharist: “”One of you is going to betray me””.
Below, and separated by a refined frieze of festoons and arches, six apostles with their attributes.
Varvara Basmadjian

H 165mm / L 120mm

Reverse side of front cover

Embossed and chiselled silver, 1660

GOSPEL BINDING

Embossed and chiselled silver, 1660